The Ebert & Roeper of the bibliophile world, Margo Hammond (longtime book editor for the St. Petersburg Times) and Ellen Heltzel (a member of the National Book Critics Circle) here recommend more than 600 books that particularly appeal to women.

"Book critics, friends, and bicoastal book bloggers, Hammond and Heltzel ... suggest diverse fiction and nonfiction books that explore themes relevant to various stages of life, from 'tapping your inner artist' to 'digging up family roots.' Some choices are obvious (Amy Tan on mother-daughter relationships); others are obscure (Veronica Buckley's biography of the queen of Sweden). And the best are gems that are frequently overlooked, particularly well-known authors' earlier works that have been eclipsed by their popular best-sellers. Succinct, honest, and cannily in-tune, the Book Babes entertainingly deliver sure bets for good reads."—Booklist